Chapter 49

Chapter 48 Chapter 48 +25 BONUS On the other side of the city, the Millers weren’t in the best of moods by the time they arrived home. Susan was the most upset, immediately storming up the stairs to go to her room. Tyler followed shortly.

“See how upset you’ve made Susan? You treated her–us–ike we were strangers while you defended that woman,” his mother accused, “Mum, what Susan did was uncalled for,” Kris pointed out his mood souring further.

“Uncalled for?” His mother stared at him in disbelief. “Even after that woma attacked me in the organizer’s office and said she would help them sue and disgrace me?”

“What you did wasn’t right either, Mum. What were you thinking, trying to use threats to withdraw your bid?”

“But how do you expect me to pay that amount for that ridiculous painting?”

“Then you shouldn’t have bid for it, Mum,” Kris snapped, much sharper than he’d intended to.

Seeing the hurt look on his mother’s face, he let out a sigh. I’m sorry, Mum, but it’s the truth.”

Karen stepped forward. “But it was Thalassa. She tricked her. She made your mum bid higher.”

Kris felt his temper rising again as he glared at her. “Will you stop blaming Thalassa for everything?”

He turned to his mother. “Mum, you could’ve stopped when you realized she was going too high, but you didn’t. You didn’t think about the situation your company was in “Enough,” his mother said, beginning to cry. “Why do you want me to feel worse than I already feel? You know I don’t like it when you’re upset with me.”

Unable to tolerate her tears, Kris quickly pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay, Mum. Stop crying. I’m not upset anymore.”

It was a lie, but the funny thing was, he didn’t even know exactly what was making him feel so upset.

“I wonder how that woman found out we would be going to that event. We made sure that nobody knew we would be accepting the invitation. Nothing can convince me that she was there by coincidence,” his mother said.

Kris didn’t respond, wanting them to just end that subject.

“Kris,” his mother started saying hesitantly. “What are we going to do about the bid price? You know that the fashion house keeps losing money, and I can’t-

Sucking in a breath, Kris cut her off. “I’ll take care of the payment, Mum. But please ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”

Just then, his phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw Alden’s name on the screen and answered.

“Dude, we’ve seen the trending news. Are you okay? Do you want to meet up at the club to talk over drinks?”

Kris hadn’t been thinking about going to the club, but he was glad for the invitation. He needed a distraction.

Some minutes later, he parked his car in the lot of the luxury club and made his way inside. His friends were sitting at their usual VIP table and beckoned him over.

“So when she told you years ago that your family was mistreating her, it was all true?” Alden asked after Kris had given them a summary of what happened at the charity event.

Kris nodded, bringing a shot of whiskey to his mouth and chucking it down his throat. The memory of Thalassa’s +25 BONUS Chapter 48 face from years ago when he called her nothing but a liar flushed into his mind, guilt searing his chest.

“I can’t believe she made your mother bid away that amount,” Henry interjected.

“Thalassa didn’t make my mum bid anything. It was my mother’s own choice,” Kris snapped.

“Okay, chill,” Henry raised his hands in surrender. “But in my opinion, you shouldn’t have confronted your sister the way you did, to the extent of even asking her to apologize to your ex–wife.”

Before Kris could say anything, a man who was walking by suddenly stopped and stared at him. “Kris Miller? Is that you?”

Kris stared at him for a few seconds before he remembered. A frown marred his face. “Clark Morgan.”

“Hey, why say it with such a lack of enthusiasm?” Clark chuckled. “Don’t tell me you aren’t happy to see an old friend.”

“You and I were never friends,” Kris reminded him as he poured himself another shot and downed it.

“Why? Because we were chasing the same woman? I stepped aside when she chose you, remember? So what’s the problem?”

There was a fourth chair at the table, and without waiting for an invitation, Clark plopped into that seat.

So how’s she doing?” he questioned. “Hope you’ve made her happy all these years.”

Henry looked at him. “Dude, you haven’t been in Baltimore for years, have you? Kris and Thalassa divorced three years ago.”

Clark’s eyes widened as he turned to Kris. “What? You mean I stepped aside for nothing? You couldn’t even make her happy enough to keep her around?”

Kris’s nostrils flared. “Don’t talk about what you don’t know anything about,” he gritted out, already tired of the conversation and the man’s presence.

He and Clark had almost become business partners more than five years ago until Clark had started courting Thalassa, who was then Kris’s secretary.

That was what had made Kris realize what he felt for Thalassa back then. They’d been rivals, so he didn’t know why the man was here trying to pretend like they were friends.

“Oh my God, speak of the angel and she appears,” Clark suddenly said, his mouth dropping open in wonder as he stared at something to his side.

Kris’s curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself following the man’s gaze. He stiffened as he saw who had just entered the bar.

It was Thalassa, wearing a thin–strapped, corset–style black dress that hugged her like a second skin and accentuated every contour of her body. The dress had a plunging neckline and ended in the middle of her thigh. It was sexy but decent compared to what the rest of the women in the club were wearing.

Beside her was Luisa, who looked equally gorgeous in a silky black tank top paired with a silky black skirt.

“Fuck me, is that really Thalassa?” Clark said as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself. “If I thought she was crazy hot years ago, then now I think she’s a fucking furnace. My God!”

He suddenly turned towards Kris. “I think you’re crazy for letting her go, but since you two are no longer together, I am going to make her mine. Hope you don’t mind.”

Kris froze, his hands balling into fists.